i need help. when i record my cassettes via aux cord, i can hear the sound through the built in speaker

Dont really know where else to ask for help. I've had an alc portable cassette recorder for a while now and I've used it before to record my cassettes. I record them by using an aux cord that goes into the "EXT MIC" port, and i plug the other end of the cable to my phone. This whole process worked fine and i got really good sound quality.

Now when i try to record, using the same method, i hear very low music coming out of the built in speaker. When i play back the tape i have to turn the volume all the way up, and i still only hear a bunch of fuzz. None of this happened before. I've tried using a different aux cord, that wasnt it. I tried out more than 10 different tapes. All of them were new. I tried cleaning the player out. That didnt work either. And ive tried using a different recorder, still nothing/ Also i should mention this all started when i tried recording with a Sony high fidelity tape on both recorders.

should i just get a new recorder? if anyone has any suggestions i would really appreciate it. thanks in advance